Liquid applicator



Aug? 9 Y M. E. LANDAU 294 mm LIQUID- APPLICATOR I Filed'sept. ll, 1944 2Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR Hilsliilandau I ATTORNEYS ME; LANBA'U LIQUIDAPBLIOATORV F ilgd, Sept. 11, 19%

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 5, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 2,425,251 LioUin APPLICATOR Miles E. Landau, Brooklyn, N. Y.

, Application September 11, 1944, Serial No. 553,565

The invention has in view an applicator of the indicated characterhaving a liquid reservoir which is sealed against the intake of air andthe discharge of the liquid except through an orifice located adjacentthe bottom thereof and which orifice is covered by a cellular spongefunctioning when the same is saturated to limit the discharge of theliquid to the amount required or removed from the sponge.

The invention further comprehends a liquid applicator provided with apair of cellular sponges disposed in superimposed relation and 50located that the lower sponge covers the orfice of the liquid reservoirand restricts the flow of the liquid therethrough to the volume of airadmitted to the reservoir through the interstices in the lower sponge bythe absorption of the liquid from the lower sponge by the upper sponge.

The invention also resides in improved means for resiliently supportingthe liquid reservoir in a socket in juxtaposition to the sponges wherebythe reservoir may be readily removed for refilling and replaced with theorifice thereof disposed in alignment with a discharge opening in thesocket and whereby the reservoir is snugly compressed against the wallof the socketadjacent said discharge opening to thereby permit thedischarge of the liquid through said opening and into the lower sponge.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, reference is now made tothe following specification and accompanying drawings in which areillustrated the preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a liquid applicator constructed inaccordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on a vertical plane.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line '33of Fig. 2. I

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the liquid reser- Fig. 5 is a similarview of the socket.

8 Claims; (01. 91-54.4)

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view therethrough.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a liquid applicator illustrating anothermodification of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View therethrough.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference and moreparticularly tothe form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 5thereof, the applicator includes a base or holder ll) of generalrectangular formation having a cylindrical shaped Well opening throughthe upper surface thereof and which well communicates with a rectangularshaped recess |2 located forwardly thereof and extending inwardly fromthe upper face of the base or holder [0. I

The wall of the well II is threaded as at l3 adjacent the bottom thereoffor removably receiving a cylindrical sleeve l4 exteriorly threaded asat l5 adjacent the lower end thereof and which is of a length to projectupwardly through the well with the upper end thereof disposed slightlyabove the upper face of the base or holder Ill. The said sleeve isprovided with an aperture l6 located above the threaded portion l5 andarranged when the sleeve is secured in the well to open into therectangular shaped recess l 2. Opposite the aperture l6, the sleeve I4is formed with a slit extending longitudinally thereof from the upperedge to a transversely disposed slit l8 located adjacent the threadedportion l5 and 5 extending forwardly I short distance at each side ofthe slit I! to thereby form oppositely disposed resilient arcuatemembers l9 and 20 at the rear of the sleeve. The sleeve provides asocket for slidably receiving and supporting a container 2| in the baseor holder III in juxtaposition to the rectangular recess l2 whichcontainer 2| constitutes a reservoir for holding a supply of the liquidto be dispensed by the applicator.

The container 2| may be of any desired formation and which asillustrated consists of a spherical shaped hollow body 22 having a,depending cylindrical shank 23 provided with an orifice 24 locatedadjacent the bottom thereof and which orifice is slightly larger thanthe aperture l6 and is disposedin registry therewith when the containeris positioned in the sleeve. The resilient arcuate members I9 and 20 ofthe sleeve function to frictionally secure the container 2| in thesleeve and to compress the shank 23 thereof against the wall of thesleev in the region of the aperture I6 so 3 as to insure the dischargeof the liquid through the aperture IS.

The shank 23 is formed with a projection 25 extending outwardly at theside thereof opposite the orifice 24 and which projection is of a sizeto slidably engage in the slit l'l between the ends of the resilientarcuate members I9 and 2D for disposing and retaining the container inposition in the sleeve with the orifice 24 thereof arranged in registrywith the aperture IS.

The applicator also includes superimposed upper and lower rectangularshaped sponges 26 and 21 which fit into the rectangular shaped recess I2with the upper sponge protruding slightly above the rim of the recessand with the lower sponge disposed with the inner end thereof abuttingagainst the sleeve l4 so as to cover the aperture l6. Preferably thesponges 26 and 21 are of a fine pore synthetic material such ascellulose or any equivalent thereof and due to the arrangement thereoffunction to supply the required amount of the liquid to the upper spongeso as tomaintain the same in a moistened condition while eliminatingexcess liquid in the recess l2. This is accomplished by the lower sponge2'! functioning when the same is saturated with the liquid to preventthe entrance of air into the container 2i except such as admittedthereto by the taking up of the liquid from the lower sponge through themedium of the absorptive action of the upper sponge, thus limiting thedischarge of the liquid from the container 2| to the amount required tomaintain the applicator surface of the upper sponge in a moistenedcondition. The arrangement of the sponges also renders it possible toconveniently remove the upper sponge for cleaning the accumulation ofgummy material which adheres thereto when moistening envelopes and thelike without disturbing the lower sponge.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 of thedrawings, the base or holder 30 of theapplicator is of circularformation having a circular recess 3| in the upper-face thereof andcentrally of the recess the bottom thereof is formed with a circularwell 32 adapted to threadedly receive therein an upstanding sleeve 33having an aperture 34 and which sleeve is similar to and functions inthe same manner as the sleeve l4 in the previous form of the invention.The sleeve 33 projects upwardly above the rim of the base or holder 30and is adapted to frictionally receive and support a container 35 havingan orifice 36 adjacent the bottom thereof providing a discharge outlet,the container 35 constituting a liquid reservoir and being similar inconstruction to the container 2| in the previous. form of the invention.

Superimposed upper and lower centrally apertured sponges 31 and 38 areprovided which are arranged in the circular recess 3| in surroundingrelation with the sleeve 33 and with the upper sponge 31 protrudingabove the rim of the base or holder 30. Th inner periphery of the lowersponge 38 snugly fits about the sleeve 33 and covers the aperture 34therein so as to effect the discharge of the liquid from the reservoir.centrally apertured flexible disk 39 of waterproof material is providedwhich is arranged upon the upper-sponge 31 with the central aperturethereof disposed about the sleeve 33. Above the sponge 31 the disk 39 isprovided with closely spaced perforations 49 through which the liquidfrom the upper sponge 31 is exuded or expressed by slight pressure ortapping on the upper surface of the disk 39. The outer periphery of thelower sponge A thin 38 is preferably spaced from the Wall of the recess3| as shown in Fig. 7 forming an annular space in which the liquidforced from the sponges by pressure thereagainst will collect so as toavoid the recess 2| filling up and the liquid spilling over the edgesthereof.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 of thedrawings, the applicator is similar in construction to the form shown inFigures 1 to 5 thereof except that in this form a container 42 isprovided which is of-cy1indrical formation and furnishes a relativelylarger liquid reservoir. The container 42 is slidably mounted in asleeve 43 frictlonally fitted in a circular recess 44 in the base orholder 45 which recess communicates with a rectangular shaped recess 45in the forward portion of the base or holder. The container 42 isprovided with an orifice 41 disposed in registry with an aperture 48 inthe sleeve 43 which functions as in the previous forms of the inventionto discharge the liquid to the upper and. lower sponges 49 and 50disposed in the recess 46 with the rear end of the lower sponge 50arranged in abutting relation over the aperture 48. The sleeve v43 isslit as at 5| for frictionally gripping the container which is formedwith a projection 52 adapted to engage in the slit 5| for .automaticallypositioning the container with the orifice 41 thereof in registry withthe aperture 48.

It is to be understood that the container or liquid reservoir in eachform of the invention being closed at the top and the orifice thereofbeing relatively small, the liquid will not run out or be dischargedtherefrom except .by the capillary action of the lower sponge. For thisreason the lower sponge is positioned in covering relation with theaperture in the sleeve and in contact with a globule of the liquid whichprotrudes from the orifice in the container or liquid reservoir wherebythe sponge sets up a suctorial action on the liquid in the container orreservoir to draw the same therefrom as required to maintain the uppersponge in a moistened condition.

To fill the container or reservoir the same is removed from theapplicator and held with the orifice thereof disposed under a stream ofthe liquid such as .a running faucet, the weight and velocity of thefalling liquid being such as to force the same into the orifice thereofand displacing the air in the container. Prior to the first use thereofthe sponges are removed and saturated or filled with the liquid.Preferably the container or reservoir is constructed of transparent ortranslucent material so that the height of the liquid therein isapparent at all times.

What is claimed is 1. In a liquid applicator, a container defining aliquid reservoir having a closed upper end and an outlet adjacent thelower end thereof, a holder, a socket member mounted in said holder forslidably receiving and supporting the liquid reservoir, said socketmember having an opening at one side thereof and a pair of resilientclamping members adapted .to resiliently compress the reservoir againstthe wall of the socket member in the region of the said opening with theoutlet thereof in registry with said opening, and a pair of superimposedsponges disposed in said holder with the. lower sponge arranged incovering relation with the opening in said socket member to control theflow of the liquid from the reservoir when the lower sponge issaturated.

2, In a liquid applicator, .a container defining portion of thereservoir for supporting the same and functioning to resilientlycompress the lower portion of the reservoir against the wall of thesocket member in the region of said opening therein, means carried bythe cylindrical portion of said reservoir engageable between the ends ofthe clamping tongues for disposing and maintaining the reservoir withthe outlet thereof in registry with the opening in the socket member anda pair of superimposed cellulose sponges disposed in said holder withthe lower sponge arranged in covering relation with the opening in saidsocket member to control the flow of the liquid from the reservoir whenthe lower sponge is saturated.

3. In a liquid applicator, a container defining a liquid reservoirhaving a closed upper end and an outlet adjacent the lower end thereof,a holder, means mounting said reservoir in said holder and having anopening registering with the outlet in the liquid reservoir, and a pairof superimposed sponges disposed in said holder with the lower spongearranged in covering relation with said outlet and functioning when thelower sponge is saturated to effect the discharge of the liquid from thereservoir to the amount taken up by the upper sponge.

4. In a liquid applicator, a container defining a liquid reservoirhaving a discharge outlet adjacent the lower end thereof, a holder, atubular sleeve having a threaded lower end portion threadedly secured insaid holder and adapted to slidably receive and support the liquidreservoir, said sleeve having an opening therein and a split upperportion defining a pair of resilient clamping members adapted toresiliently compress the reservoir against the Wall of the sleeve in theregion of the outlet and with said opening registering with thedischarge outlet, a pair of superimposed sponges disposed in said holderwith the lower sponge arranged in covering relation with the dischargeopening, and a plate having an opening therein through which thereservoir projects and having a foraminous portion overlying said uppersponge adapted for moistening the fingers through the openings in theforaminous portion.

5. In a liquid applicator, a container defining a liquid reservoirhaving an outlet adjacent the lower end thereof, a holder having acircular recess opening through the upper face thereof and a rectangularrecess communicating with said circular recess and extending inwardlyfrom the upper surface of said holder, a socket member threadedlysecured in said circular recess and having an opening at one sidethereof and directed into said rectangular recess, said socket memberbeing adapted to receive and support the container in the holder withthe outlet thereof in registry with the opening in the socket member,and a sponge disposed in said rectangular recess with one side thereofabutting against the socket member so as to cover the opening therein tothereby effect the discharge of the liquid from the container.

6. In a liquid applicator, a container defining a liquid reservoirhaving an orifice in the lower portion thereof, a holder, a tubularsleeve secured in said holder and having an opening and resilientclamping means adapted to receive and resiliently retain the reservoirin the sleeve with said opening registering with the orifice, a pair ofsuperimposed sponges disposed in said holder with the lower spongearranged in covering relation with the orifice in the reservoir and ashield having a foraminous portion overlying said upper sponge andadapted to admit liquid from the upper sponge therethrough.

7. In a liquid applicator, a container defining a liquid reservoirhaving a closed upper end and an outlet adjacent the lower end thereof,a holder, a socket member mounted in said holder for slidably receivingand supporting the liquid reservoir, said socket member having anopening at one side thereof and a pair of resilient clamping membersadapted to resiliently compress the reservoir against the wall of thesocket member in the region of the said opening with the outlet thereofin registry with said opening, and a sponge disposed in said holder incovering relation with the opening in said socket member to control theflow of the liquid from the reservoir.

8. In a liquid applicator, a holder, a liquid container defining aliquid reservoir having a closed upper end and an orifice in the lowerportion thereof, a socket member disposed in said holder, said socketmember receiving said reservoir and having an orifice in registry withthe orifice in said reservoir to permit the passage of liquidtherethrough, and sponge material disposed in said holder in coveringrelation with said orifice in the socket member to effect and controlthe discharge of liquid from said reservoir.

MILES E. LANDAU.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

